Check Out the Specs on Seattle's New 'Pronto' Cycle Share Bikes, Launching September

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On August 25, Seattle's new "Pronto" Cycle Share service will begin accepting memberships in anticipation of its launch in September. An $85 annual membership gets you as many 30 minute trips as you want for a year, while 24-hour passes will run you $8. Kiosks to check out the bikes will be located across the city "near existing transit hubs, employment centers, shopping districts, medical centers, schools and other popular destinations." What exactly will you be getting though?

Pronto bikes, unlike most bikeshare cycles across the country, will come equipped with a seven-speed gear rather than the standard three, a decision made with Seattle's steep hills in mind. The tires are wide enough that they won't get lodged in all those pesky streetcar tracks around town. The lights on the bike are dynamo powered, meaning the bike's motion charges them, and the nifty chainguard is designed so you won't get your pantlegs dirty.

Seattle's entry into the bikeshare world is overdue—over 200 cities already have their own, with many of them, like the one in D.C., having to double its bike stock to keep up with demand. Next month's launch will release a fleet of 500 bikes and 50 solar-powered docking stations across the city—we'll see if that's enough for the Seattle's preternaturally bike-hungry population.